Base of Operations: Mobile,
including Crimson Cowl's base at Mount Charteris and a bar in
Burton Canyon

First Appearance: Marvel Team
Up I#8 (April, 1973)

Powers/Abilities: Man Killer originally wore an exo-skeleton that augmented her strength seven times (Class 10)
enabling her to punch through stone walls and enhance her
physical activities. Created by AIM Scientists, it was covered in
bulletproof armor which is equipped to hurl razor sharp blades. She was dependent on her exo-skeleton to survive.

Since that time, she has apparently
regained full mobility and no longer requires the exo-skeleton (unless she can
cloak it). She has been seen using her powers out of costume, so it would appear
that she has gained all of the powers the suit once granted her. In fact, she
now appears to be much stronger, closer to Class 25 or higher.

Recently, Man-Killer received Pym Particles from Fixer which allow her superhuman growth powers, and her strength and durability presumably increase as she grows.

Height: 7' (variable)Weight: 282 lbs. (variable)Eyes: BlueHair: Red

History: (Marvel Team Up I#8(fb)) - Katrina Louisa van Horn had a promising future as a champion
skier before she met another skier named Karl Lubbings, a violent
anti-women's libber. Their argument over male and female
superiority led to a skiing contest pitting his male ego to her
female abilities. In order to defeat her and save face, he played
a rough game by cutting her off on the course and accidentally
knocking them both into a ravine. He was killed, but Katrina was
left near death.
Katrina soon learned her injuries would keep her from skiing
again, and that her scars robbed her of her beauty. Scarred
psychologically as well, she developed a severe hatred of all men.
Her recovery was financed by a militant group of feminists who
granted her an exo-skeleton that added to her strength and
mobility.

(MTU#8) - She debuted two years later as Man
Killer in Chicago by assassinating anti-women's lib politician Mayor Samuels.
Clashing briefly with the Cat, she was next sent to steal an experimental radioactive generator prototype from a Power Plant in Harlem NYC, but the Cat
enlisted Spider-Man's help in defeating her. Man-Killer was,
however, defeated emotionally by being forced to discover
her exo-skeleton had been created by male AIM scientists.

(Daredevil I#121-BTS, 123) - Man-Killer became
enlisted in Silvermane's short-lived HYDRA faction in a base
under New York City's Shea Stadium. Hearing how lawyer Franklin
"Foggy" Nelson was being considered for a role in
SHIELD's Directorial Council, Silvermane had him kidnapped in an
attempt to destroy SHIELD from within. When Daredevil and the
Black Widow came to the rescue, Man-Killer squared off with the
Widow, but was defeated when Ivan Petrovitch forced her exo-skeleton
to lock up on her.

(Thunderbolts#65, 69 (fb) - BTS) - While working for Hammer she was infected with a dormant bio-toxin through which Hammer hoped to control her and the other infected agents later.

(Iron Man I#126-127) - Justin Hammer sent her (and
an army of Super-Villains) to fight Iron Man. She lost.

(Marvel Team Up I#107) - Presumably freed from
prison by her militant supporters, Man-Killer aids them in
abducting Hildy Dawes, a leftist underground revolutionist from
California sent to New York City with lawyer Jennifer Walters to
get a fair trial. Believing Dawes's support would bolster her
female cause, Man-Killer clashed once more with Spider-Man and
with Walters as the She-Hulk. Blaming herself for the ensuing
carnage, Dawes grabbed some high tension wires during an escape
and electrocute herself and Man-Killer.

(Thunderbolts#3) - No longer wearing an exo-skeleton, she first appeared as a member of
Crimson Cowl's Masters of Evil; fought the Black Widow and the
Thunderbolts, fled using the Cowl's teleportation technology.
Later, the Masters oversaw a transaction with the Arms Merchant
that was disrupted by the Thunderbolts' arrival; fled when Techno
armed himself with the Arms Merchant's weaponry.

(Thunderbolts#18) - With the other Masters of
Evil, fought the Thunderbolts after team-mate Cyclone led them
into their trap; defeated MACH-1 in battle; with Crimson Cowl,
offered the Thunderbolts an allegiance with them, with the threat
that if they did not accept, they would inform all their enemies
where to find them.

(Thunderbolts#19) - With Cyclone, Flying Tiger,
Klaw and Tiger Shark, intercepted the Thunderbolts during their
battle with Charcoal and the Imperial Forces, allowing them to
escape; mentioned they would picking up newly-minted coins, and
warned the Thunderbolts to stop "playing hero".

(Thunderbolts#20) - With the Masters, attempted
theft of the Western Currency Facility in Fort Worth, attacked by
the Thunderbolts; captured the Thunderbolts, but forced to flee
when seeming Dreadknight (Hawkeye in disguise) appeared to aid
the Thunderbolts, and the authorities began to arrive.

(Thunderbolts#23) - With the Masters, observed
Hawkeye's statement that the Thunderbolts would bring them down.

(Thunderbolts#24) - With the Masters, assaulted
the National Guard in Robinette, Nebraska, to bring the
Thunderbolts to them and active tremendous weather storm;
returned to Mount Charteris base with other Masters of Evil, now
numbered at 25 men and women.

(Thunderbolts#25) - Base infiltrated by the
Thunderbolts, fought them; Man-Killer fled with Cyclone when she
realized their defeat was imminent.

(Thunderbolts#27) - First appeared as bartender
"Wilma" in Burton Canyon, Colorado. Found tending bar
at "The Down Slope" by Thunderbolts member Atlas (in
civilian clothes), who was unsure whether to inform his teammates
of her activities.

(Thunderbolts#30) - Bar again visited by Atlas,
who noticed her interest in skiing, another clue that she was Man-Killer.

(Thunderbolts#34) - Saw Atlas on television;
suspected he had been visiting her bar.

(Thunderbolts#35) - Again visited by Atlas, who
was mourning the apparent death of his teammate Jolt.

(Thunderbolts#39) - Realized the Thunderbolts
were in trouble when an electromagnetic disruption field was felt
around Burton Canyon; pondered whether the Thunderbolts would
allow her to join their team.

(Thunderbolts#40-41) - Bar visited by Techno and
Scourge, both in disguise.

(Thunderbolts#42) - Bar trashed by Wonder Man,
who had come to capture Atlas for Count Nefaria; pleaded to by
Atlas to aid him against Wonder Man's assault, but declared that
she hated all men, and abandoned him.

(Deadline#2) - Man-Killer returned to NYC where she became barkeeper at the Bar With No Name. One night she talked with Kat Farrell about Judge Hart.

(Thunderbolts#64) - Was present at Cardinal's
jailbreak, along with the rest of the new Crimson Cowl's new
Masters Of Evil.

(Thunderbolts#65) - Man-Killer was one of the
bodyguards at Justin Hammer's house when Hawkeye, Plantman,
Songbird and Cyclone broke in. The Masters had no problem taking
care of Hawkeye's group, and Man-Killer even KO'ed Plantman.
Later, was talked into joining Hawkeye's group when he exposed
that Hammer had planted a bomb inside all of his former agents.

(bts)
Changed her name to Amazon and gained a new costume.

(Thunderbolts#67) - After Hawkeye's team was
captured by Silver Sable, Amazon spent some time getting to know
Skein and Cyclone. Later, they raided Justine Hammer's estate,
but were caught by surprise when Justine was revealed to be the
new Crimson Cowl.

(bts) - Amazon was captured, along with Cyclone,
Songbird, and Blackheath (Plantman's new alias).

(Thunderbolts#69) - After being freed by
Songbird, Amazon discussed retreating, but Songbird didn't like
the idea. After Justine Hammer's defeat, is confronted by SHIELD
agents.

(Thunderbolts#71) - Punching a hole through the wall, Amazon gave the others in the
group an escape route, save Songbird, who stayed. While Hawkeye
wandered through the woods on his way back, found her hanging
from a tree, where Skein was trying to get her to consider going
back to help Songbird. Using Harrier and Cyclone for bait, was
able to surprise a SHIELD agent. Cyclone begged her to untie him,
calling her Man-Killer in the process. She requested he call her
Amazon from now on, and he made a comment about another going to
the other side, which she replied to with "I was born on
that side, Frenchie." Finding Skein and SHIELD agent
Silicone in a compromising situation, she KO'ed the poor guy.

(Marvel Universe: The End#5-6) - Amazon, along with the rest
of the Thunderbolts and their allies, joined together with a multitude of heroes
and villains from Earth and the rest of the universe to oppose Thanos, who had
gained supreme power from the Heart of the Infinite. Thanos easily wiped out
every single being in the universe, but later was convinced to sacrifice himself
to restore the universe to its previous state.

(Thunderbolts#73) - Went on the mission to fix
the White Hole in V-Battalion HQ in Symkaria, where she was stuck
with the job of anchor.

(Thunderbolts#74) - Was there to "greet"
the original Thunderbolts, as they made their way back from
Counter-Earth.

(Thunderbolts#75) - On a beach outside of Dr.
Faustus' old home where the Thunderbolts had made their temporary
home, Amazon considered just swimming away. After a short
conversation with Atlas, swam away, saying that she just didn't
have the guts for it.

(Thunderbolts#80
(fb) - BTS, 80) - Now wearing another new costume and TRYING to
go by the name Katrina (though everyone kept calling her Man-Killer,
and no one remembered the alias Amazon from 6 months ago...),
she broke into the gem vault at Frickel Jewelers from the roof.
She evaded the cops with this approach, but was not so successful
at escaping the detection of the web-swinger. She got into
another fight with Spider-Man, who wore her down, webbed her up,
and left her hanging from a flagpole after suitable taunting.
She was bailed out soon after by agents of Rey Trueno, who sought
to recruit her for his Unlimited Brawling Championship
organization. Coach Cady tried to give her some direction, but
she didn't respond well to his methods and ended up punching him
out.
Katrina then linked up with Delilah (with whom
she was most friendly) and the Scorpion, and attempted to recruit
Axum into a group to gain revenge on Spider-Man.

(Thunderbolts#81) - Figuring Trueno was playing
her for a sucker, Katrina continued with her groups plans against
Spider-Man. However, Trueno's lawyer got all charges dropped by
claiming all damage done was defensive action against Spider-Man,
as there was no evidence to the contrary. Katrina decided to
abandon her plot for vengeance, as did Axum, and the remaining
two person "Spider-Man Revenge League" didn't fare as
well--both the Scorpion and Delilah were left hanging, webbed to
another flagpole.

(New Thunderbolts#18) - Man-Killer was recruited to Baron Zemo's team to oppose the Thunderbolts and given Pym Particles by the Fixer so that she could match Atlas in power. She commented that her new powers had better not make her go "nuts" like everyone else who used it.

(Thunderbolts II#100 (fb)) - Man-Killer joined MACH-4, Moonstone, Blackout, Zemo, Fixer and Blizzard in opposing the Thunderbolts over the life of Photon (Genis-Vell). Her new powers gained her a brief advantage against Atlas, but ultimately he beat her. In the end, Zemo won and killed Photon.

(Avengers: The Initiative#31) - After enrolling in Norman Osborn's Initiative, Man-Killer sparred with Badd Axe during a party at the Initiative Camp HAMMER, alongside Black Mamba, Cutthroat, Griffin, Scorcher, Skein, and Taskmaster. When Osborn announced a visit, Taskmaster whipped them into shape, suggesting Man-Killer and Badd Axe get a room. During Osborn's later visit, Badd Axe sparred against Scorcher and Man-Killer against Griffin.

(Avengers: The Initiative#33) - Man-Killer was among the villains defending Camp HAMMER when the Avengers Resistance attacked it.

(Avengers: The Initiative#34) - Man-Killer fought Rage during the Avengers Resistance's assault on Camp HAMMER. As the Avengers Resistance were joined by the Shadow Initiative and Penance, the Hood and a number of his forces left to bolster Osborn's forces in Asgard, leaving Man-Killer and the remaining villains behind to combat the heroes with their Norn Stone-enhanced powers.

(Avengers: The Initiative#35) - Man-Killer lost her enhanced powers when Loki withdrew the Norn Stones from the Hood in Oklahoma. She was quickly defeated by Ultragirl afterward.

COMMENTS: Created by Gerry
Conway & Jim Mooney

It is unknown how Man Killer survived her
electrocution in MTU#107-- Techno remarked in Thunderbolts#3
that she was supposed to be dead. That issue by the way is the
historic first meeting of Spider-Man and the She-Hulk. (And what a
nice couple they make !!!)

Man-Killer has a one page profile (not very informative) as one of "Spider-Man's Forgotten Foes!" in Web of Spider-Man Annual#3.--Markus Raymond

Some of Man-Killer's comments to Atlas make it clear that
she bats for the other team--Snood.

At the time Thunderbolts I#3 was published Don Fortunato was on the rise in the New Yorker underworld and he worked together with Hydra, like Black Widow surmised. The Arms Merchant's deal was probably with him.--Markus Raymond

OK, I've got to make the Austin Powers
connection. While MK is a big meanie and not quite as funny as
Austin, she's got that big "woman" symbol thingee, and
her 1972 appearance has his lingo down pat.--Snood.

Big thanks to G Morrow for pointing out Man-Killer's appearance in Deadline#2. It was so obvious that it was her and I still missed it while doing the Judge profile.--Markus Raymond

Main image scan by MarvellousLuke.

Profile by William Uchtman and Prime Eternal;images
and coordination by Snood, and thanks to Danny Wall at the OHoTMU for letting us
use his beautifully sculpted image, from a profile written by Omar Karindu.
Updated 2/4/03 courtesy of Zerostar,
and then 7/26/03 by
Snood. Now
that's collaboration!